Live on SS1 & 2, ESPN: Sat 12.45 & 17.30, Sun 13.30 & 16.00: It’s 5/2 the draw (Skybet) as the Manchester Derby takes centre stage.
Manchester derby contests rarely need to be hyped but given that City and United currently occupy the top two places in the Premiership respectively, Sunday’s showdown takes on a little extra significance.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges have a hundred percent record at home and have won 22 of their last 23 league games on their own patch so it’s easy to see why they’re Boylesports’ 11/10 favourites to beat their bitter rivals. The league leaders meanwhile, are 11/4 with bet365 to be the first team to win at Old Trafford since Chelsea’s 2-1 success in April 2010 but as City possess strong away from this term the eye catching bet has to be Skybet’s 5/2 posted against the draw.
The hosts tend to be strong defensively in their own backyard but as Norwich almost penetrated their defence on several occasions recently, the dangerous visitors can find the net. Paddy Power’s 4/6 for both teams to get on the scoresheet looks a safe bet then and punters seeking a bit more of a return could do worse than consider Partybets’ 11/2 for it to end one-each.
United have looked a touch vulnerable of late so if any team is to nick it, it could be City and they’re an enticing 13/8 in Stan James’ ‘Draw No Bet’ market. Nevertheless, it’s an extremely tough-to-call tussle so punters should tread carefully and indeed some might simply fancy a speculative flutter in the first scorer betting, where price Wayne Rooney at 11/2 and Betdaq make Sergio Aguero 8.0 (7/1).
Third-placed Chelsea will be hoping that the Manchester bout provides them with a chance to rise up the table but the Blues first have to get the better of QPR in their own local derby, a result Ladbrokes offer at 2/5 and Andre Villas-Boas men look decent value at 11/4 (bet365) to sneak it by a one-goal margin at Loftus Road. Liverpool meanwhile, might be ruing a couple of missed opportunities to win last week’s clash against Manchester United but Kenny Dalglish’s charges, a 3/10 chance at Stan James, should collect a maximum haul against Norwich and Paddy Power make them evens to prevail ‘to nil’.
In the lunchtime kick-off Swansea are 12/5 (Skybet) to snatch a point at Wolves, where it’s 11/2 with Totesport to finish one-apiece while similarly, the stalemate, this time at 9/4 courtesy of Betfred, is the best bet at Craven Cottage as Fulham and Everton lock horns.
Arsenal struggled to get the better of Sunderland at the weekend and despite home win odds of just 4/7 with bet365, they will have to work just as hard to see off Stoke at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Also on course for a home victory are Newcastle, who Ladbrokes quote at 8/13 to overcome Wigan and fresh from last week’s success against the Latics, Bolton can make it back-to-back wins by sending Sunderland home empty-handed, an outcome Boylesports chalk up at 5/4.
Finally, at Ewood Park, Stan James mark evens against Spurs inflicting more misery on rock bottom Blackburn while it’s 12/5 at Sportingbet for Aston Villa and West Brom to be inseparable.
Recommended Bets:
Manchester United and Manchester City to draw 1-1 – 11/2 (Partybets)
Chelsea to beat QPR by one – 11/4 (bet365)
Fulham and Everton to draw – 9/4 (Betfred)
Compare all Premier League odds and bet at the best price.
